International Experience Program: India
Faculty of Education
Teach Rural Children - India Study Abroad Centre (ISAC)
" The program has been an opportunity to learn about myself and appreciate another culture. I have definitely gained much from this experience. The benefits have been the friendships I have developed with others, learning to accept and tolerate individual differences and personalities, developing confidence in my own abilities as a teacher and learning that I can teach when I am thrown into new situations. A big benefit of the program has been learning about India and experiencing the Indian lifestyle- the food, transport, clothing, education system, celebration days, shopping, farming, caste system, poverty, resilience and the student's willingness to learn." CSU program participant 2010
This program provides students with the opportunity to live and teach in a rural community in India.
Small groups of students will be placed in a range of school settings, including primary & secondary schools, orphanages and centres for children with special needs where they will teach or co-teach classes. Most of the schools are run by non governments agencies who are trying to provide an educational opportunity to those who may not otherwise be able to afford to send their children to school.
In most schools there are few resources, yet many have inspiring and very dedicated staff. The school day varies. Some schools start at 8am and classes finish by 2pm. In other schools the day may start around 11am and continue to 5pm.
The level of English spoken by staff and students varies. CSU students will be given support to develop teaching practices that are appropriate to those using English as a Second or Foreign Language. Students are free to explore India at the weekend. Lonavala is approximately 3 hours from Mumbai and 1 hour from Pune. There is a brief travel period at the end of the teaching program
Please contact the India Study Abroad Centre (ISAC) for further program information
Students wishing to undertake this program and receive credit must liaise with their Course Director for approval.